Press Releases

Rep. Young Troubled By Air Force Draft EIS Proposal for Eielson AFB

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Alaskan Congressman Don Young released the following statement today in response to the U.S. Air Force’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement(EIS) for the proposed movement of the 18th Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

“Over the last year and a half, I have fought alongside Governor Parnell, my Senate colleagues and local community leaders for Eielson Air Force Base. During this time, we have shown the Air Force a number of undeniable truths about housing, commute times, and school availability, all of which makes the proposed 18th Aggressor Squadron move difficult, if not impossible,” said Rep. Young. “At the end of the day, these are the Air Force’s planes, but first they must prove to the Delegation and the rest of Alaska that this move will actually save money, will not adversely impact communities in Alaska, and most importantly, does not harm our strategic shift to the Pacific. This EIS does not address any of the Delegation’s concerns and does not adequately prove what we have asked the Air Force to prove. Going forward in the short term, I encourage the Air Force to give the Alaskan communities more time to comment.”

So as to address local concerns regarding the fast approaching comment period, Congressman Don Young and Senator Lisa Murkowski today wrote Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh requesting that the community meetings scheduled for mid June be rescheduled to the week of July 8th, to give Alaskans enough time to formulate comments. To view the letter, click here.